Columbus, Georgia

PLANNING ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING

March 2, 2005



A meeting of the Planning Advisory Commission was held Wednesday, March 2, 2005

in the Council Chambers on the Plaza Level of the Government Center.



Commissioners Present: Chairperson Derrick Shields, Vice Chairperson Shep

Mullin, Chris Henson, Sharon Jamison, Brad Dodds, Karl Douglass, Bob Crane and

Joe Alexander.



Staff Members: Will Johnson, Zoning Administrator and Tina Trant, Recorder.



Commissioners Absent: Berry Henderson



Others Present: Barbara Hardwick, Tony Adams, Denise Johnson, Terry Fields,

Frances Malone, Tom King, Anne King, Gail Franz, Peter Bowden, Robert J. Evans,

Milton Jones, Glenn Davis, Gena Taylor, Ruth Kinard, Elayne Saucier, Emma and

A.T. Wilson, Joy Burnham, Tamlin Fortner, Leneal Fortner, George Bedsole, Terry

Fike, Nadja Copeland, David Acton, Harry Hall, Alton Duncan, Rebecca Shepard,

Bill Hardwick, and Alfred Curry.



I. CALL TO ORDER: Chairperson Shields called the meeting to order at 9:00

a.m. He explained the rezoning process. Commissioner Alexander will vote for

Commissioner Henderson who is absent.



II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Commissioner Dodds made a motion to approve the

January 5 & 19 minutes and also February 2 & 16, 2005 minutes. Commissioner

Douglass seconded. The minutes were approved unanimously.



III. NEW REZONING CASES:





1. ZC0502-3: A request to rezone the property located at 6000 Warm

Springs Road. The current zonings are C-2 (Neighborhood Shopping) and R-2

(Low Density Residential) Districts. The proposed zoning is A-O (Apartment /

Office) district. The purpose of the rezoning is for condominiums.



Ben Billings, Applicant



This case has been tabled by the applicant until March 16, 2005.





2. ZC0502-4: A request to rezone 67 acres east of Britton/River Roads, south

of Double

Churches Road. The current zoning is R-1 (Low Density Residential) District.

The proposed zoning is R-2 (Low Density Residential) District. The purpose of

the rezoning is for single family residential.



Ray M. Wright, Inc., Applicant



This case has been tabled by the applicant until March 16, 2005. Although it

has been tabled, there are citizens here for the case. The Staff Report will

be read and then the residents will be heard.



Mr. Will Johnson read the Staff Report for this case. This case is consistent

with the future land use map of the Comp Plan (Planning District 2). The future

land use map shows Low Density Residential.



It is consistent with Residential Development Policy Statements - #2.



It is compatible with existing land uses.



The property does not lie within a studied floodplain and floodway area. The

developer will need an approved drainage plan prior to issuance of a Site

Development Permit, if a permit is required.



The property is served by all city services.



The proposed project is not expected to have a negative impact on the

transportation network. The current traffic count is 9,543 trips per day and

will increase to 10,921 trips per day. The level of service will remain at C

(11,800 trips per day) for River Road.



The site shall meet the codes and regulations of the Columbus Consolidated

Government for residential usage.



The development could average about 75 to 100 children of various ages.

Elementary age students would attend Double Churches Elementary which has 859

students, capacity 650. Middle School age students would attend Double

Churches Middle School which has 867 students, capacity 675. High school age

students would attend Northside which has 1,286 students, capacity 1,100.



The proposed development shall have a Category A buffer requirement along the

property lines bordered by the A-O zoning district. The three options under

Category A are: 1) 5 feet with a certain amount of shrubs / ornamental

grasses per 100 linear feet and a wood fence, masonry wall, or earth berm. 2)

10 feet with a certain amount of understory trees and shrubs / ornamental

grasses per 100 linear feet. 3) 20 feet undisturbed natural buffer.



It is not within Fort Benning?s range.



It is not a DRI.



Thirty-one (31) property owners within 300 feet were notified of this rezoning

request. The Planning Division received several comments concerning this

rezoning request.



There are no conditions.



There is no additional information.



Rob McKenna came to the podium. He met with several of the residents in the

area. He agreed to look at the site plans again regarding traffic and

density. He does not have the site plans back yet. That is why he wants to

table the case until March 16, 2005.



Several residents wanted to speak anyway. Elayne Saucier, 408 Crestfield Drive

came to the podium. She is the spokesperson for the area. She has a petition

and will pass it around on March 16, 2005.



3. ZC0501-7: A request to rezone the property located on Gateway Road, south

of the J. R. Allen Parkway. The current zoning is A-1 (Agricultural), A-O

(Apartment / Office), and M-1 (Light Manufacturing) zoning districts. The

proposed zoning is C-3 (General Commercial) District. The purpose of the

rezoning is for a shopping center / retail.



Wolford Development Options, LLC, Applicant



Mr. Will Johnson read the Staff Report for this case. This case is consistent

with the future land use map of the Comp Plan (Planning District 3). The future

land use map shows General Commercial.



It is consistent with Commercial Development Policy Statements - #1.



It is compatible with existing land uses.



The property does lie within a studied floodplain and floodway area. The

developer will need an approved drainage plan prior to issuance of a Site

Development Permit, if a permit is required.



The property is served by all city services.



The proposed project is expected to have a negative impact on the

transportation network. However, the exit ramps are operating at a LOS D or F.

A traffic study has been completed and issues concerning intersection

improvements are being addressed.



The site shall meet the codes and regulations of the Columbus Consolidated

Government for commercial usage.



There will be no school impact.



The proposed development shall have a Category C buffer requirement along the

property lines bordered by the M-1, A-O, and R-4 zoning districts. The three

options under Category A are: 1) 20 feet with a certain amount of canopy

trees, understory trees, and shrubs / ornamental grasses per 100 linear feet.

2) 10 feet with a certain amount of shrubs/ ornamental grasses per 100 linear

feet and a wood fence, masonry wall, or earth berm. 3) 30 feet undisturbed

natural buffer.



It is not within Fort Benning?s notification range.



This is a DRI. The Lower Chattahoochee Regional Development Center has

reviewed the project and has found that the proposed action is in the best

interest of the state, i.e., there are no adverse interjurisdictional impacts

or conflicts.



Nineteen (19) property owners within 300 feet were notified of this rezoning

request. The Planning Division received several comments concerning this

rezoning request and one opposing the request. A community meeting was held on

Monday night and there were about 150 people opposing this request.



There are no conditions.



There is no additional information.



Scott Williamson, Executive Vice President of the Wolford Development, Inc.

came to the podium. The Gateway Road site allows Wolford to serve the most

customers. The future land use map shows commercial developments in this

area. The total square feet will be 300,000 to 350,000, including the out

parcels. It will be completed in 2006.



Jim Lowe, LAI Engineering, came to the podium. The buffer will vary along the

west side.



Lewis Chalmers, Vice President of LAI Engineering, came to the podium. The

first step in discussing the project included Ron Hamlett, Traffic

Engineering. A traffic study was done. The design criteria for this project

is a LOS C. Estimated trips to and from per day for this area will be

approximately 18,000.









IV. NEW BUSINESS:





VI. OLD BUSINESS:



VII. ADJOURNMENT:

The meeting was adjourned at 9:25 a.m.







______________________________ ______________________________

Derrick Shields, Chairperson Will Johnson, Zoning

Administator